Botanical and agronomic growth of two <i>Panicum maximum</i> cultivars, Mombasa and Tanzania, at varying sowing rates

Authors

  • Michael D. Hare Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand.
  • Supaphan Phengphet Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand.
  • Theerachai Songsiri Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand.
  • Naddakorn Sutin Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17138/tgft(2)246-253

Abstract

A field trial in northeast Thailand during 2011–2013 compared the establishment and growth of 2 Panicum maximum cultivars, Mombasa and Tanzania, sown at seeding rates of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 kg/ha. In the first 3 months of establishment, higher sowing rates produced significantly more DM than sowing at 2 kg/ha, but thereafter there were no significant differences in total DM production between sowing rates of 2–12 kg/ha. Lower sowing rates produced fewer tillers/m2 than higher sowing rates but these fewer tillers were significantly heavier than the more numerous smaller tillers produced by higher sowing rates. Mombasa produced 23% more DM than Tanzania in successive wet seasons (7,060 vs. 5,712 kg DM/ha from 16 June to 1 November 2011; and 16,433 vs. 13,350 kg DM/ha from 25 April to 24 October 2012). Both cultivars produced similar DM yields in the dry seasons (November–April), averaging 2,000 kg DM/ha in the first dry season and 1,750 kg DM/ha in the second dry season. Mombasa produced taller tillers (104 vs. 82 cm), longer leaves (60 vs. 47 cm), wider leaves (2 vs. 1.8 cm) and heavier tillers (1 vs. 0.7 g) than Tanzania but fewer tillers/m2 (260 vs. 304). If farmers improve soil preparation and place more emphasis on sowing techniques, there is potential to dramatically reduce seed costs.

Keywords: Guinea grass, tillering, forage production, seeding rates, Thailand.

DOI: 10.17138/TGFT(2)246-253

Author Biography

Michael D. Hare, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand.

Michael Hare has been involved with seed production of tropical and temperate forage grasses and legumes for almost four decades in Thailand (tropical) and New Zealand (temperate). In Thailand Michael started large scale machine harvesting of Townsville stylo and Verano stylo in the 1970s and later was involved in a village farmer seed programme of various species which continues until this day. From 1984 to 1994 Michael worked as a herbage seed scientist at Grasslands Division, DSIR, Palmerston North, New Zealand, researching seed production problems on a wide range of temperate species. Since 1994, Michael has worked at Ubon Ratchathani University in Thailand, researching seed production of tropical forages and starting a new village seed programme with Tropical Seeds, a subsidiary of a Mexican seed company, Grupo Papalotla. This programme contracts over 1000 village farmers in Thailand and Laos to produce seed of Mulato II and Cayman hybrid brachiarias, Mombasa and Tanzania guinea grasses, Ubon paspalum and Ubon stylo. Seed is currently being exported to countries in Central America, the South Pacific, other parts of Asia and now Africa. Michael conducts research trials on the above species and is involved in final evaluation of new hybrid brachiaria accessions from CIAT for which Grupo Papalotla has the production rights. Michael is a professor in the Faculty of Agriculture, Ubon Ratchathani University and recently became a Fellow of the Tropical Grassland Society of Australia Inc. He has been author or co-author of 130 papers on various aspects of seed and forages in both temperate and tropical pastures.

How to Cite

Hare, M. D., Phengphet, S., Songsiri, T., & Sutin, N. (2014). Botanical and agronomic growth of two <i>Panicum maximum</i> cultivars, Mombasa and Tanzania, at varying sowing rates. Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales, 2(3), 246–253. https://doi.org/10.17138/tgft(2)246-253

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Published

2014-09-24

Issue

Section

Research Papers